Georgia Attorneys of Defective Auto Glass Injury Lawsuits and Settlements
Georgia Auto Glass Injuries
The windows in your car perform a vital function. Not only are they a means to see the world around you when you are in the car, but auto manufacturers designed auto glass to protect the occupants of the vehicle in the event of a collision. In fact, auto glass provides such an important safety function for the vehicle's occupants that the glass must conform to numerous safety standards imposed by the U.S. government.
The failure of auto glass to meet or exceed the imposed safety standards creates a hazardous, life-threatening situation for the occupants of the vehicle in a crash. The primary safety function of a windshield is to keep people from going through it in the aftermath of an accident. The survivability of an auto accident is much higher if the person stays inside the car. Faulty windshields can give way to the force of a body violently thrown into the windshield. The person could be completely thrown from the vehicle if the windshield fails to meet the relevant safety standards. Also, the car accident victim could be stuck in the windshield. Either scenario could be fatal.
Two Types of Glass Protect People in an Automobile from Harm
Windshields must comply with the rules established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. According to these rules, windshields must be made with a laminate. The glass manufacturer, called a glazer, produces two pieces of safety glass when constructing a windshield. The safety glass adheres to a laminate that is compressed in the center of the two pieces of glass. The laminate is a composite substance known as polyvinyl butyral (PVB). PVB allows the glass to withstand impact from outside of the vehicle when struck by projectiles and from within should an individual be propelled toward the windshield in a car wreck. The PVB laminate prevents the glass from shattering and breaking into dangerous shards. Instead, a broken windshield should form a "spider web" pattern if manufactured properly.
The incredibly strong windshields enhance the safety of modern cars. In an accident, the driver's airbag shoots out of the steering wheel. Conversely, the passenger's airbag opens near the top of the dashboard and rebounds off of the windshield. The windshield redirects the deployed airbag toward the passenger. A defective windshield would not have the strength to withstand the forceful contact with a deploying airbag and would break, rendering the airbag useless and further imperiling the passenger.
PVB-infused windshields perform an essential function if the car rolls on its roof. The windshield, along with the A, B, and C pillars of the vehicle resist the forces applied to the roof of a car that has rolled over, preventing the roof from collapsing and crushing the occupants.
The remaining windows of a standard motor vehicle are made of tempered glass. Tempered glass is weakest at its edges but is very strong in the center of the glass. The strength and resilience of the tempered glass prevents breaking from everyday stresses like opening and closing the door and bouncing in and out of potholes. The design of tempered glass allows it to break into pieces.
Defects in Auto Glass
Shattering tempered glass can cause severe, permanent injuries such as scarring and disfigurement. However, a defective windshield could be deadly. According to recent estimates, 85% of all replacement windshields are defective due to improper installation or faulty manufacture.
A driver must learn to recognize a defective windshield. Impairments such as wavy lines, leaking seals, and jelly-like seals around the edges of the windshield that feel sticky. Anyone of these indicators signals a faulty windshield that must be replaced immediately. Failing to do so places you and your family in grave danger.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at Montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour live chat.
Sources:
https://www.glass.com/regulations
https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j673_201506/
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/13/cbs-2-investigation-an-improper-windshield-installation-can-be-deadly/
https://itstillruns.com/can-tell-windshield-defective-7376177.html
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/auto-glass4.htm
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333